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Profile

Todd Astle is a former professional cricketer who played for the New Zealand Black Caps, representing his country in Test, ODI, and T20 formats.

Over an impressive 18-year career, he became known for his skill and dedication, contributing significantly to New Zealand cricket. As a key player for Canterbury, he became the association's all-time leading wicket-taker, playing over 100 first-class matches. Todd was a crucial member of the Black Caps’ squad that triumphed in the 2021 World Test Championship and was also part of the team that reached the T20 World Cup final that same year.

After retiring from professional cricket in March 2023, Todd transitioned into a new role as a peak performance mental skills coach. Drawing on the mental and emotional challenges he faced throughout his sports career, he founded Innerspin, a business that focuses on helping athletes and teams across various industries achieve their best through mental conditioning. His coaching has resonated with many, as he combines a deep understanding of sports psychology with practical strategies for fostering an optimal mindset.

Beyond his work with athletes, Todd co-founded BetterMan, a charitable initiative aimed at encouraging men to improve their well-being and relationships, challenging societal norms, and creating positive change in mental health and well-being. Through this platform, he continues to inspire others, not just in sport, but in life.

Expertise

Talking Points

Win Within- A story of perseverance and mental strength

Todd played 18 seasons of professional cricket for Canterbury, racking up over 100 first-class matches and is the association's leading all-time wicket taker. He also played for the New Zealand Black Caps in all three formats of the game. Having experienced numerous challenges, triumphs, and setbacks, both on and off the field, Todd has harnessed his experiences, learnings, and formal studies, to create his mental skills business Innerspin. His aim is to educate, inspire and empower others through mental skills coaching, which helps to create greater awareness and an optimal mindset.

Given the topic is about winning – Todd has come a long way since his younger days where he would do anything to win... Well, more like not lose... Whether that be pulling out the power cable to the Commodore 64 computer, smashing all the chess pieces off the board when he went behind, or at mini golf using his putter like a hockey stick to roll the ball into the hole. Thankfully, he grew out of that and is now a paragon of calmness and awareness, so he must be doing something right worth sharing. ‘Win Within’ focusses on winning the inner game as Todd shares insightful stories and key takeaways around awareness, self-compassion, and gratitude.

BetterMan- Betterment, yarns, competition (BYC)

Todd was a fat baby, played 18 seasons of professional cricket for Canterbury hence his nickname the Toddfather, dreamt of owning a sweet store as a kid, fainted during year 10 sexual health, found life after the Christchurch earthquakes difficult so reached out for professional help, is horrible at diving into a pool and finds it impossible to float, was the Under 12 Manawatu Club Tennis singles champion, founded his own mental skills business Innerspin and is passionate about giving back and making a positive difference. He is now Co-Founder of the Charity BetterMan. A charity on a mission building a community of people striving to make a positive change and become a better version of themselves.

We do this by sharing learnings from sport, focusing on enhancing quality relationships, challenging social norms, and being positive disruptors. BetterMan is a “fence at the top of the cliff” approach as opposed to the “ambulance at the bottom”, with regular events and initiatives, packed with positive psychology and wellbeing principles to help men in particular, move towards, or stay at, the higher end of the mental health spectrum. BetterMan has three overarching principles- Betterment (growth and learning), Yarns (open, honest, vulnerable conversations and talks), Competition (Fun, engagement and interaction).

The keynote provides practical insights to inspire, empower and encourage audiences to embrace their imperfections and their own stories, as we all strive to make sense of our own unique journeys.

Champion Mindset- Your 'best self' to thrive

It is often stated that top level sport and performance in so many areas, is all about the 'top two inches’, or ‘90% mental’. Yet most don’t know where to turn to in order to create plans for developing their mental skills and the right mindset. In the game of life, we hold the controls. We are the players who make the plays. Our inner voice, our beliefs, actions and attitudes are what determines our mindset. And our way of thinking sets us up for failure or success. You have a choice. You can think average and get average results, or think like a champion and reap remarkable rewards. It actually takes little more effort to believe in ourselves, than it does to put ourselves down. Make the decision to spend that energy on improving your mindset and understanding how unique and powerful your gifts are in this world. You are the one who needs to understand this first before anyone else can. Now let’s go make it happen!

Former New Zealand professional cricketer Todd Astle delivers an informative and engaging keynote talk, where he shares powerful stories from his sporting career- the highs lows and all the in-betweens. With his down-to-earth, engaging and highly entertaining style he promotes resilience, mental skills and wellbeing principles.